EMILY's List

EMILY's List is an American political action committee (PAC) that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office. It was founded by Ellen Malcolm in 1985.[4] The group's name is an acronym for "Early Money Is Like Yeast". Malcolm commented that "it makes the dough rise".[4] The saying refers to a convention of political fundraising: receiving many donations early in a race helps attract subsequent donors. EMILY's List bundles contributions to the campaigns of Democratic women in favor of abortion rights running in targeted races.[5][6]

This article is about the American organization. For the Australian organization, see EMILY's List Australia.
EMILY's List
Formation1985 (1985)[1]
FounderEllen Malcolm
PurposeTo elect Democratic women in favor of abortion rights to political office
HeadquartersWashington, D.C., U.S.
Membership
3 million[2]
President
Vacant
Budget
$44,878,362 (2014)[3]
Revenue
$44,206,357 (2014)[3]
Websiteemilyslist.org

From 1985 through 2008, EMILY's List raised $240 million for political candidates.[1] EMILY's List spent $27.4 million in 2010, $34 million in 2012, and $44.9 million in 2014.[3] The organization was on track to raise $60 million for the 2016 election cycle, much of it earmarked for Hillary Clinton, whose presidential bid EMILY's List had endorsed.[7]

History and mission
Ellen Malcolm attending an EMILY's List event.

EMILY's List was founded in 1985 when 25 women met in the home of Ellen Malcolm. Founding members included Barbara Boxer, Ann Richards, Anne Wexler, and Donna Shalala.[6] In 1986, early financial support from EMILY's List helped elect Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, the first female Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband).[1][8]

The group's mission is to cultivate a donor network to raise money for female Democratic candidates in favor of abortion rights. To become an official EMILY's List member, an individual must pay $100 to join EMILY's List and agree to donate a minimum of $100 each to two U.S. Senate, U.S. House, or gubernatorial candidates. Members donate directly to EMILY's List, which bundles the checks together and forwards them to candidates.[9]

In her book, When Women Win: EMILY's List and the Rise of Women in American Politics, Ellen Malcolm, the organization's founder, stated that "creating progressive policies and promoting them can be incredibly valuable. But those policies will never be implemented unless enough politicians are elected who support them."[10] They focused specifically on women in favor of abortion rights because they felt that "women couldn't be equal until they had control over their bodies."[11]

They focused on raising early money for women because women were not getting money from the Democratic party and thus were generally not winning races even if they were qualified,[12] and they felt that early money could help convince people that their campaigns were credible and would help them raise more money later.[13]

For the 2006 election cycle, EMILY's List raised about $46 million for candidates and the group was listed as the biggest PAC in the nation by Political Money Line.[14] EMILY's List endorsed 31 candidates in 2006, eight of whom were victorious.[6]

In 2008, EMILY's List endorsed 22 U.S. House candidates, two U.S. Senate candidates, and three gubernatorial contenders.[6] The PAC helped elect two new female senators, Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, and supported the gubernatorial election of Bev Perdue of North Carolina, the re-election of Gov. Christine Gregoire of Washington, and the successful elections of twelve new women to the United States House of Representatives.[8]

EMILY's List criteria for picking candidates include staff recommendations, viability, "demographics and history of the district, analysis of opponents or potential opponents, analysis of candidate's education, political experience, etc., demonstrated success at fund-raising, poll data to demonstrate name recognition and grass roots support."[13]

Staff

Laphonza Butler took over as president of EMILY's List in 2021, leaving in October 2023 to fill the remainder of the late Dianne Feinstein's U.S. Senate term. Political strategist Jessica Mackler was selected as interim president following Buter's Senate appointment.[15] [16] Butler was preceded by Stephanie Schriock (2010–2021). Emily Cain has served as Executive Director since 2017. Amy Dacey was the executive director of EMILY's List from 2010 through 2013.[17]

The organization's board of directors includes Ellen Malcolm, Rebecca Haile, Yolanda Caraway, Yvette Nicole Brown, Maya Harris, María Teresa Kumar, Wendy Greuel, Judith Lichtman, and Donald Sussman.[18]

Programs

The Political Opportunity Program (POP) was established in 2001 to encourage Democratic women in favor of abortion rights to run for state and local office. POP targets its resources toward Democratic women in favor of abortion rights running for state legislatures, state constitutional offices, and local offices.[19]

Women Vote!

In 1995, EMILY's List began a program called Women Vote![20] to promote a higher voter turnout among women. Women Vote! is Emily's List's independent expenditure arm communicating directly with voters.[6]

Criticism

Critics would like to see EMILY's List expand its definition of "women's issues" to include economic issues like a higher minimum wage and expanded Social Security. Others have said that the group needs to focus its resources better, staying out of races where there is already an incumbent progressive Democrat and concentrating on other races instead.[21] Democrat Marcy Kaptur criticized EMILY's List for being too narrow in focus by emphasizing abortion rights over other progressive issues, such as the minimum wage, that also affect women.[6]

EMILY's List in the past has received some criticism for how much money they are accepting and where that money is going to as being a Political Action Committee or PAC. In Nick Hoffman's article EMILY's List v. FEC[22] he discusses EMILY's List as a non-profit that has had trouble with the Federal Election Commission or FEC. Hoffman accuses EMILY's List of arguing with the FEC over how much money should be allowed to be given to campaigns. EMILY's List has been criticized for pushing the allowance of no limit on how much money can be donated to campaigns.[22]

Endorsements

Endorsed candidates

EMILY's List provides training, recruits women to run, and endorses and funds female political candidates. EMILY's List is listed as an "important source of candidate support,"[23] in a 2010 article in the Harvard International Review.

Presidential

During the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, EMILY's List supported Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama and bundled $855,518 for Clinton, making the group one of the five largest donors to her 2008 campaign.[6] When NARAL endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, EMILY's List was strongly critical. EMILY's List President Ellen Malcolm said, "I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton - who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade - to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process. It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them."[24] After the conclusion of the Democratic presidential primaries, EMILY's List moved their support to Barack Obama and was vocal in their opposition to the McCain/Palin ticket.[25]

In 2013, EMILY's List launched its Madam President campaign, saying, "There is a mandate for women's leadership in this country. But we have yet to break through the final glass ceiling and put a woman at the top of the Democratic ticket and into the Presidency."[26]

Accordingly, EMILY's List endorsed Hillary Clinton for president On April 12, 2015 within hours of of Clinton forming an exploratory committee to run for president.[6] Madame President came to house the former social media presences of Ready for Hillary PAC which did grassroots organizing in preparation for Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy.[27]

In the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries EMILY's List endorsed Senator Elizabeth Warren the day before Super Tuesday.[28]

2012

In 2012, 80% of the candidates endorsed by EMILY's List in the general election won a seat.[29]

2014

In the 2014 election cycle, EMILY's List endorsed 24 U.S. House candidates, six U.S. Senate candidates, and six gubernatorial candidates. Of these 40 candidates endorsed by EMILY's List, 42.5% won.[30]

2018

In the 2018 election, EMILY's List endorsed eight women in gubernatorial races, 12 for the U.S. Senate, and 64 candidates for the House of Representatives.[31]

Similar groups

Similar groups have formed along the same lines as EMILY's List, with some slight variations. In 1994, Joan Kirner created a similar organization in Australia by the name EMILY's List Australia. Political activist and former school teacher Amy Laufer founded Virginia's List, a political group supporting Democratic women running for office in Virginia.[32]

EMILY's List's conservative counterparts include: The Wish List, which supports Republican women in favor of abortion rights; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, an anti-abortion PAC that supports women who oppose abortion;[33] and Maggie's List, a PAC founded in Florida in 2010 to "raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office."[34][35]

References
  1. O'Connor, Karen (2010). Gender and Women's Leadership: A Reference Handbook. SAGE Publications. p. 152. ISBN 9781452266350.
  2. Siddiqui, Sabrina (November 7, 2013). "Emily's List Membership Hits 3 Million As Women Candidates Attract National Attention". Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  3. "EMILY's List". OpenSecrets.
  4. Halloran, Liz (April 29, 2010). "Mother Of Women's PACs Seeks Younger Supporters". NPR. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  5. "EMILY's List Mission".
  6. Vaida, Bara; Skalka, Jennifer (June 28, 2008). "Can EMILY's List Get Its Mojo Back?". National Journal. Archived from the original on 5 February 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  7. Blumenthal, Paul (June 19, 2015). "EMILY's List Already Raising Big Bucks For Hillary Clinton". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  8. Pimlott, Jamie Pamelia (2010). Women and the Democratic Party: The Evolution of Emily's List. Cambria Press. ISBN 9781604976557.
  9. Pluta, Rick (October 17, 1993). "Raising Dough". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  10. Malcolm, Ellen (2016). When women win : EMILY's list and the rise of women in American politics. Unger, Craig. Boston. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-544-44331-0. OCLC 913923800.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  11. Malcolm, Ellen, and Craig Unger. When Women Win: EMILY's List and the Rise of Women in American Politics. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 68. Print.
  12. Malcolm, Ellen, and Craig Unger. When Women Win: EMILY's List and the Rise of Women in American Politics. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 38. Print.
  13. Malcolm, Ellen, and Craig Unger. When Women Win: EMILY's List and the Rise of Women in American Politics. New York City: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. 39. Print.
  14. "Sweet column: Hillary Clinton gets key endorsement for 2008 bid". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on 2008-01-13.
  15. "Leadership". EMILYs List. Retrieved 2023-10-18.
  16. "Governor Gavin Newsom Appoints Laphonza Butler to the U.S. Senate". California Governor. 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-10-02. With her selection to the Senate, Butler will step down from her role as president of EMILY's List, where she was the first woman of color and mother to lead the organization.
  17. Neff, Blake (October 31, 2013). "DNC taps EMILY's List chief as new executive director". The Hill. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  18. "Board of Directors". EMILY's List. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  19. O'Hea, Olivia (February 27, 2014). "Event empowers young women to run for office". The Times-Delphi. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  20. "EMILY's List Women Vote! Program".
  21. "Progressive Left's Latest Target: EMILY's List". The Daily Beast. September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  22. Hoffman, Nick (2010). "EMILY's List v. FEC". The Urban Lawyer. 42 (1): 210–212. JSTOR 27895773.
  23. Life's a Party: Do Political Parties Help or Hinder Women?, p 39
  24. Horowitz, Jason (May 14, 2008). "EMILY's List Trashes NARAL for Obama Endorsement". New York Observer. Archived from the original on May 29, 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  25. Curran, Dan (September 17, 2008). "National Organization for Woman Endorses Obama, Snubs Palin". CNN. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  26. "EMILY's List introduces "Madam President"". www.emilyslist.org. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  27. Andrews, Natalie (2015-04-03). "Fans of 'Ready For Hillary' Headed to Emily's List". WSJ Blogs - Washington Wire. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
  28. Perano, Ursula (2 March 2020). "Pro-women PAC Emily's List endorses Elizabeth Warren". Axios. Retrieved 2020-03-03.
  29. Good, Chris (November 14, 2012). "Claire McCaskill, Emily's List Celebrate Women's Wins in 2012". ABC News. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  30. Gold Matea (April 16, 2014). "EMILY's List powering Democratic women fundraising totals". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  31. "EMILY's List". www.emilyslist.org. Retrieved 2018-11-26.
  32. WTVR News, Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2019, retrieved October 6, 2019
  33. Gardner, Amy (May 14, 2010). "Sarah Palin issues a call to action to 'mama grizzlies'". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  34. Cyphers, Karen (2013-06-10). "Jeb Bush to headline Maggie's List event honoring fiscally conservative legislators". SaintPetersBlog. Retrieved 2015-06-13.
  35. "Maggie's List. Women's Political Action Committee. Who we are and what we do". Maggieslist.org. Archived from the original on 2015-07-07. Retrieved 2015-06-13.

Further reading
  • Cooperman, Rosalyn, and Melody Crowder-Meyer. "Standing on Their Shoulders: Suffragists, Women’s PACs, and Demands for Women’s Representation." PS: Political Science & Politics 53.3 (2020): 470-473.
  • Crowder-Meyer, Melody, and Rosalyn Cooperman. "Can’t buy them love: How party culture among donors contributes to the party gap in women’s representation." Journal of Politics 80.4 (2018): 1211-1224.
  • Manuel, Daniel. "EMILY’s List (Early Money Is Like Yeast)." in Women in the American Political System: An Encyclopedia of Women as Voters, Candidates, and Office Holders (2018): 127+.
  • Ondercin, Heather L. "Who is responsible for the gender gap? The dynamics of men’s and women’s democratic macropartisanship, 1950–2012." Political Research Quarterly 70.4 (2017): 749-761.
  • Pimlott, Jamie. Women and the Democratic Party: The Evolution of Emily's List (Cambria Press; 2010) 209 pages; the history from 1985 through 2008.
  • Abshee, Edward. "Emily's List". (2010)
  • O'Dea, S. "From Suffrage to the Senate: America's Political Women". (2019)
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